Q. What is the proper way to judge a masonry wall?

Q. What is the proper way to judge a masonry wall?
A. Aesthetic ConcernsBoth the Brick Industry Association (BIA) and the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) recommend that you judge a finished masonry wall from a
distance of 20 feet under diffused lighting conditions. You should be standing directly in front of the wall, not sighting down the edge of it. These requirements are an extrapolation of the ASTM standards governing acceptable quality of brick and block. The standard asks for diffused lighting conditions because edge-lit exposure
magnifies imperfections in any flat wall system (stucco, precast, masonry or metal panels). You are asked to stand 20 feet away from the wall so that you will view the wall as a whole, not placing extreme emphasis on each brick, block or mortar joint.
Any imperfections that show up from this distance are significant enough to make it
to the punch list. You can also use a mock-up panel as a standard for judging the finished masonry work. A mock-up panel should be erected at the beginning of the project. It should be at least 4 feet by 4 feet in size and should include all the
different masonry materials that will be included in the final building. We recommend that the panel be built exactly as the final wall will be built, with insulation, wall anchors, weep holes and a least one corner. For an accurate test of the proposed cleaning methods prescribed for the building, you need to clean the mock-up panel with the same method which will be used to clean the whole building. The mock-up panel is a three-dimensional representation of an agreement between the owner,
the architect, the general contractor and the mason contractor. This is the point
where they officially work out the level of craftsmanship and appearance that will be acceptable in the final wall. A mock-up panel is considered to be part of the project documentation and is as legally enforceable as the drawings or the specifications.
The mock-up panel should remain in place until the owner finally accepts the project.
If necessary, you can move the panel but do not throw it away.
Structural ConcernsACI 530.1 defines the tolerances allowed in masonry construction. It describes sizes
of mortar joints, allowable deviation from plumb, level and flat construction and allowable deviations from intended placement of masonry walls and piers. The standards listed under ACI 503.1 are more concerned with structural integrity of the building than with aesthetics.
Water PenetrationIf you have cracks or bee holes in the mortar joints that are large enough to let wind-driven water into the wall, you need to ask the mason contractor to repair them. Cracks larger than .014” are large enough to need replacement. Cracks smaller than .014” are considered to be “hairline cracks”. You can ignore them. Obviously,
reviewing masonry construction for cracks needs to be done with a crack gauge held next to the wall surface. Mortar joints with large cracks must be ground out and repointed. The repointed joints may not match the rest of the wall for months,
perhaps even as long as a year.